China's Generative AI and AI Technology Landscape

In the ever-changing global landscape, China has firmly established itself as an ambitious frontrunner in the domain of Artificial Intelligence (AI), with a notable focus on generative AI technologies. As the country strives to assert its position ahead of the United States in the AI technology race, it is imperative to build a greater understanding of the key players, advances, and government policies shaping China's AI ecosystem.

In this online discussion about China's ongoing achievements in the AI space presented by the Asia Society Policy Institute’s (ASPI) Center for China Analysis (CCA), Lizzi C. Lee, Honorary Junior Fellow, Chinese Economy, ASPI’s Center for China Analysis will speak with Karen Hao, Former Tech Reporter, The Wall Street Journal; Zeyi Yang, Tech Reporter, MIT Technology Review; Jenny Xiao, Partner, Leonis Capital; and Qiheng Chen, Honorary Junior Fellow, Chinese Economy and Technology, ASPI’s Center for China Analysis & Senior Analyst, Compass Lexecon.

The discussion will cover the complexities of generative AI, shed light on the mechanisms of this cutting-edge technology and its potential applications, examine the critical stakeholders and organizations driving China's AI ambitions, and analyze government policies aimed at fostering a culture of innovation.

SPEAKERS

Qiheng Chen is a Senior Analyst at Compass Lexecon, where he provides competition economic analyses for mergers and litigations, particularly those involving the semiconductor industry and tech platforms. He has researched China’s laws and policies on tech regulation, data governance, and cybersecurity, and consulted on these topics. Qiheng is also a Young Economist Representative at the ABA Antitrust Section's International Comments and Policy Committee, and an Honorary Junior Fellow on Technology and Economy at the Asia Society Policy Institute's Center for China Analysis.

Lizzi C. Lee is an Honorary Junior Fellow on the Chinese Economy at the Asia Society Policy Institute’s (ASPI) Center for China Analysis (CCA). Lizzi is an economist turned journalist. She graduated from MIT’s Ph.D. program in Economics before joining the New York-based independent Chinese media outlet Wall St TV. She is currently the host of "The Signal Live with Lizzi Lee" powered by The China Project, where she interviews the most knowledgeable minds on China for analysis of the ever-evolving business and technology ecosystem. 

Karen Hao is an award-winning journalist covering the impacts of AI on society. She was formerly a foreign correspondent covering China tech for the Wall Street Journal and a senior editor for AI at MIT Technology Review. Her work is regularly taught in universities and cited by governments. She has received numerous accolades for her coverage, including an ASME Next Award for Journalists Under 30. She received her B.S. from MIT.

Jenny Xiao is a venture capitalist and researcher. She is a partner at Leonis Capital, an AI-focused early-stage fund. She is also an affiliate of the Centre for the Governance of AI. Jenny previously conducted Ph.D. research at Columbia University, where her dissertation examined the AI industry in the U.S. and China. Her work on the global LLM landscape has appeared in Foreign Affairs, the Wall Street Journal, and the Economist.

Zeyi Yang covers technologies in China and East Asia for MIT Technology Review. Previously, his work has appeared in Protocol, Rest of World, Columbia Journalism Review, South China Morning Post, Nikkei Asia, among others.